Understand Azure SQL Database serverless limits, auto-pause, resume delays, and billing metrics before choosing an idle strategy.
USE HINT: Switching Off One Optimizer Rule Without Trace Flags
Apply USE HINT to one query, inspect supported names, compare optimizer behavior, and manage Query Store hints with a clear removal plan.
When Did SQL Server Last Restart? Four Ways to Check
Find SQL Server’s last restart using startup metadata, tempdb, logs, and sessions, then interpret reset counters correctly.
Top 1 and Index Scan: A Scan That Stops After One Row
Top 1 and index scan can sit in the same plan, and the scan still reads only a few pages. This post runs six queries on a table of 100,000 rows and reads their logical reads. It shows why TOP 1 reads three pages in one case and every page in another.
Cached Data Per Object in Memory: Read the Buffer Pool
Cached data per object tells you which tables and indexes fill the buffer pool. This post builds two demo tables, empties their cache and reads part of the data. A query then lists the pages, megabytes and share of each index in memory. It also explains why the view is costly on a big server.
Disable Adaptive Join for One Query or a Whole Database
To disable adaptive join for one query, add a USE HINT to it. This post also shows a Query Store hint for code you cannot edit and the database setting that switches the feature off for everything. Each switch is tested on a small demo database and checked in the plan.
Job Steps That Fail While the Agent Job Reports Success
A green job history does not mean every step worked. Decode the failure routing and pair failed steps with their outcomes.